[[quoteright:164:[[ComicBook/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mastersword_moss_1395.JPG]]]][[caption-width-right:164:[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast And the Master Sword sleeps again... FOREVER]]![[note]][[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds Except for that one time]][[/note]]]]A SubTrope of the CoolSword, the Excalibur In The Rust has an outward appearance which [[MoreThanMeetsTheEye belies its awesome nature]]. It looks like an entirely ordinary, non-Cool sword. In fact, it's extremely likely to be in an apparent state of extreme disrepair. Getting it back into working order may require a visit to the UltimateBlacksmith.

If it appears in a video game, it may be a LethalJokeItem, especially if it's originally listed as "[[ElementalCrafting Rusty Iron]] Sword" or similar.

Compare to WhatAPieceOfJunk. If someone who doesn't recognize its true value throws it away, or sticks it in the basement with all the other worthless junk, it's the GrailInTheGarbage. See also WreckedWeapon.----!!Examples:

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[[folder:Anime & Manga]]* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'': When Tenchi first sees the [[LaserBlade Master Key]], a physical blade had been affixed to the hilt. This blade was in a state of extreme disrepair, prompting Tenchi to exclaim, "What a rusty old piece of junk!" after breaking it on a rock...which then splits in two.* In the hands of anyone except ''Manga/InuYasha'', Tessaiga looks like a katana that has seen better days. It's also quite dull, though it's still almost indestructible. When [=InuYasha=] wields it, the blade takes its [[{{BFS}} true form]]. Bonus points for Inuyasha calling it "''a piece of junk''" constantly in the two episodes that featured him gaining it.* Saito's sword, Derflinger, in ''LightNovel/ZeroNoTsukaima'' is a rusty piece of junk sold cheap by a store owner. Despite this it can talk, absorb magic attacks, and even control the body of its wielder if they're unconscious. It is eventually revealed that [[spoiler:Derflinger is a "spirit sword". The rusted sword wielded by Saito is simply a vessel for its powers; when the blade is broken, Derflinger can transfer its powers to another completely ordinary sword]].* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Most [[EmpathicWeapon zanpakutou]] look utterly ordinary when sealed only revealing a special look when they release their powers. The two zanpakutou that exist in permanent shikai form also fit this trope. Ichigo's zanpakutou looks half-finished, missing both a hilt and a cross-guard, and Kenpachi's is a chipped, pitted mess. Several zanpakutou also look completely ordinary when released, as well, and it's only when the power activates that the true nature and incredible power of the weapons are revealed.* In ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'', Gourry wields a normal looking sword that suited him just fine. But if he were to take off the blade he can turn it into the [[LaserBlade Sword of Light]].* In a FieldOfBlades in ''Manga/KingOfBanditJing'', each claiming to be [[StockWeaponNames Excalibur]], Jing finds that the ''real'' {{Excalibur}} is not a worn sword but a key to the resident HumongousMecha.* Variation in ''Anime/YuGiOh''. Rafael's cards are so old that the ink is fading and the edges are frayed. That doesn't change the fact that he has one of the most powerful decks in the series.* Inverted ''hilariously'' with [[LaughingMad Excalibur]] of ''Anime/SoulEater''; initially it seems to be a gloriously CoolSword, but once it's pulled from the stone, it's revealed to be an EquippableAlly... who wears a tiny [[NiceHat top hat]] and stands at half the height of any other character. Not to mention he's ''[[PhraseCatcher so annoying.]]''[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]* Pictured above is the Master Sword, the iconic blade from ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', as pictured in the last panel of the ''Magazine/NintendoPower'' comic adaptation. The comic hews to the idea of centuries passing between games: after Link triumphs over Ganon, he returns the sword to await the next hero. This is implied to be a ''long'' time coming.** When Link actually '''FINDS''' the Master Sword in the [[Manga/TheLegendOfZelda Akira Himekawa manga]] version, it's shown in a similar state to its comic counterpart above. The rust and growth fall away and the sword is drawn as if it were newly forged.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]* Kyon's AncestralWeapon is this in ''FanFic/KyonBigDamnHero''. {{Subverted}} in that the sword actually ''is'' in a state of disrepair, to the point of being completely non-functional (only the hilt has survived) until Yuki gives it [[LaserBlade some upgrades]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]* In the 1982 ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' movie, the Atlantean Sword looks like a solid piece of rust when Conan first finds it in the tomb. That might just be the decayed scabbard, though, since Conan just whacks the sword on stone a few times and the crud comes right off.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Folklore]]* In Rumanian Folklore it's a very popular theme with the Hero discovering that the decrepit/rusty looking sword/horse/armour/piece of equipment is actually the needed magical item, not the brand spanking new one next to it. More often than not the decrepit item/animal belonged to the Hero's father. The horse turns out to be able to speak and to actually be a lot smarter and knowledgeable than the hero and practically verbose compared to him/her [[note]]in at least one instance the hero is a heroine who goes through a GenderBender in the end[[/note]] .[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': The absolutely ordinary-looking, non-magical sword wielded by Carrot Ironfoundersson. Does not gleam, has minor chips along the edge, and [[AbsurdlySharpBlade sharp enough]] to effortlessly nail someone to a marble pillar. His ancestors had explicitly wanted a sword that was really good at ''killing people'' rather than looking good. It is also implied that it has taken on a quasi-magical nature that is far beyond mundane magic weaponry by virtue of being wielded for a good cause by a good man who by all rights should be a king but refuses to be one. One book states that such a sword could cut through a dozen magical swords like butter. Technically, it's a subversion, as the sword is so powerful because it is utterly lacking in magic, making it more real than the rest of the Disc, which cannot exist without magical power.* Of course the eponymous blade in ''[[Literature/TheSwordOfShannaraTrilogy The Sword of Shannara]]'' is this, just a well-made if nondescript weapon actually found and overlooked by the heroes as they ransack a sack of junk looking for anything useful. They soon realize their mistake and spend half the book chasing after the luckless gnome they'd let take it away.* ''Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain''** Dyrnwyn, the CoolSword in the books, is burned black by the fire that killed its first wielder.** A nonmagical version: Tarin makes a sword with a blacksmith, and initially wants to cast it away because it's ugly and has chips in it. It proves very powerful, and he wields it against Dorath, who is using Tarin's previous beautiful sword, it utterly shatters Dorath's sword. When Tarin's blacksmith mentor asked him to test his new ugly sword despite his disappointment, Tarin tried to shatter it against an anvil...and split the anvil.* Fyodor in the ''[[TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms Starlight And Shadows]]'' trilogy has a [[{{BFS}} two-handed sword, clearly too heavy]]... and ''blunt''. Far too many people didn't think it was serious until they learned a few little details: first, it's enchanted and works as if was sharp enough for any purpose except "friendly fire". Second, while most people can lift it with a visible effort, the owner is built like a smith (and was one) and always carries the damn thing with him, so he can use the ugly piece of metal as intended. Third, as TheBerserker, in rage he swings it with enough strength to crash a minor golem and enough speed to hit a superhumanly fast drow fencer.* In ''Oathbreakers'', of the ''HeraldsOfValdemar'' series, the long-lost Singing Sword of Rethwellan that is used to identify the country's rightful king is discovered to be none other than a rusty, dirty old sword that Kethry picked up along the wayside.* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''** The Knights of the Cross have three swords that can burn faeries, kill demons, and help dispatch all manner of supernatural nasties. These three swords are fairly plain, save for the Nail from the Cross embedded in the hilt. [[spoiler: Turns out that all of these swords are actually pretty famous, because they're Excalibur, Kusanagi, and Durendal]]. So this a very good example of the trope. ** Taken further with [[spoiler:Kusanagi, the Sword of Faith, in ''Skin Game'' because one person who took it into her custody misused the sacred blade and muted its power, the sword is easily shattered. Now, nothing more than a hilt with a bit of metal at the end and the Nail inside, it fell into the hands of a man strong and pure in faith that good can overcome evil, one person can make a difference, and is willing to die for his faith, the Sword reforged itself into the image of his faith. It now appears as a beam of white angelic light with a soft hum about it, or to be precise, a lightsaber. A genuine holy lightsaber from nothing more than a hilt of a broken blade]].* In the ''Conrad Stargard'' series, Conrad finds a sword forged with watering techniques (a powerful blacksmith's art known in the Near East but not in Poland), and buys it from a sword dealer who has no idea that this watered sword is anything special.* Played with in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. When the hobbits first see what's left of Narsil, it's broken in half and doesn't look very impressive. After it's reforged into Andúril, however, it's said to be beautiful and obviously belonging to a King.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]* Sikanda, the magical sword from ''Tales from Literature/TheNeverendingStory'', true to the book.* Sort of played in ''Series/{{Merlin}}'' where a plain looking sword is transformed into Excalibur by the dragon's breath.* ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'': Commander Kruger carries around an old sword that looks chipped and battered - but when he [[LetsGetDangerous gets dangerous]] for the first time, it does too, transforming into a much more impressive blade.* ''Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'': The Kyoryu Disk, when first found, is an inert disk containing only a cryptic message from the founding Shinken Red. Its power was drained to seal the Kusari Ayakashi general Manpuku, BigBad du jour of the movie who was unsealed by the overall Big Bad's summer power surge. Takeru restores it by slotting it onto his sword and stabbing said sword into the kanji on Manpuku's body left by the seal. Its power restored, the Kyoryu Disk can now be used to transform the Shinkenmaru into the very powerful Kyoryumaru, able to infinitely lengthen its blade to smash into enemies and act as a WhipSword. On top of that, it can transform [[HumongousMecha Shinken-Oh]]'s Daishinken into the Kyoryu Origami (A mecha version of itself), which combines with Shinken-Oh as a new helmet and a BFS to swing.** Its ''PowerRangersSamurai'' counterpart, the Shark Disk (Saban, like some fans, thought the Kyoryu Origami looked more like an ambulatory shark than a dinosaur), was apparently similarly inert though in this case it was offlined by battle damage and said to have been mended by the SixthRanger using the same powers and skills he used to repair certain Zords and complete the Black Box.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' magazine #14 article "Interview with a Rust Monster": A {{PC}} party unknowingly carries the Sword of Toshio. "[It] looks like an ordinary sword, bent and worn from use. But in the hands of a samurai, it takes on its true appearance as a katana of great power."* The Templars' swords in ''TabletopGame/{{Deadlands}}: Hell on Earth'' are their iconic weapons and often relic or magically empowered. Physically, they are whatever kind of sword you can scavenge in a [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic]] world, most often stolen from ruined museums.* A classic trait of Legacy weapons in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''; they always appear to be something much less than what they truly are.** Often invoked with Glamered weapons, which can change appearance to look like any object of similar size and shape. Doing so also hides the weapon's magical aura, making it a perfect disguise. That rust covered blade you found might be a legendary weapon, but if you just cast Detect Magic on it and toss in on the junk heap, you'll never know.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* In ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', the player acquires a rusty old sword at the beginning of the game, which is none other than the game's legendary Mana Sword. According to the opening scroll, it actually is Excalibur, as well as many other swords of legend.** It also happens in the first ''Seiken Densetsu'' game (''VideoGame/FinalFantasyAdventure''), and the same twist applies: it's the Mana Sword. The remake doesn't let you wield it, but it opens the path to the Dime Tower in both versions of the game.* Pale Justice in ''IcewindDale'' is an extremely powerful sword for paladins, and looks exactly like an ordinary longsword.** A sidequest during the [[EasingIntoTheAdventure prologue]] has you retrieving a broken heirloom sword for a villager named Jhonen (no, not '''that''' [[JhonenVasquez Jhonen]]). In the last chapter, if you did this quest, you can talk to him again to find out that the sword magically reforged itself sometime while you were off doing the [[BuffySpeak adventury]] thing. Not being a fighter himself, he's only too happy to hand over the rather nice [[InfinityPlusOneSword Reforged Sword of Aihonen]] to help you out against the BigBad. And it doesn't stop there, either - if you bring it with you into [[ExpansionPack Heart of Winter]], about halfway through you meet an NPC who will upgrade it even further.* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'' features the Rusty equipment, the first piece of which you're likely to find is the Rusty Sword towards the end of the game. It's not much use at first, but add a little glass powder and some {{Unobtainium}} (Orichalcum, in this case) and you get the third best sword in the game. And then the rest of the equipment is also the third best of its type in the game. It is very difficult [[GuideDangIt to find anything other than the sword.]]** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'' has the Sword of Ramias.* The Falcata from ''RomancingSaGa'' which becomes the Demonbrand.* Various rusted weapons can be found at a low chance in the ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' series by mining them or from quest drops. They usually tend to subvert this trope in being generic iron swords, hammers, et al. On the off chance you're lucky, you'll get a "Rusted" or "Worn" weapon which, with a lot of work in getting parts to break the rust, become some powerful weapons. In particular are the Eternal Hate and the Divine Exodus, two Sword and Shield weapons with the highest Dragon attributes in Tri, bar none.* ''GloryOfHeracles'' often hands you Rusty items. These are useless until you visit a Polisher, who scours the rust off. Usually you get pretty decent gear out of it. Sometimes subverted in that the rust is so far gone all you get is Scrap Iron. The first sword in the DS game gets buffed to an Infinity Minus One Sword before the final dungeon, and one more time by the Blacksmith God, Hapheastus, right before the Big Bad into an Infinity Plus One Sword. * In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' one of the most powerful knives in the game when it was introduced looked exactly like a [[GrievousBottleyHarm small broken bottle]]. There are also a few magical maces that just look like unadorned bones.* Many of the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Celestial Weapons]] from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' start off looking this way and being rather useless, but with a little polish, some sharpening, and a number of mini-games, their true worth will be revealed.* In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'', the Sword of Altair (best weapon in the game) is actually the simplest and least-adorned weapon in the entire game, especially when compared with the exceptionally ornate blades and hilts of the other sabers, scimitars, and rapiers Ezio can buy. The only real adornment on the blade is a subtle eagle-head carving in the sword's pommel.* In ''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar'', Althena's Sword (so named for the goddess of Lunar) can only be wielded by her champion, the Dragonmaster--but has been lost since the last known Dragonmaster, Dyne, died. [[spoiler: Truth is, it's been hiding in plain sight, crusted over with debris and buried to the hilt in Dyne's monument right outside the (mostly) SilentProtagonist Alex's own village. After proving himself as the next Dragonmaster, Alex is able to draw Althena's Sword [[OnlyTheChosenMayWield from the stone]] and reveal its true power.]]** In the sequel, ''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue'', Althena's Sword [[spoiler: is being carried by once-TeamPet Nall, now grown up and in human form. Astute gamers will recognize it right off the bat, even though the distinctive carved golden handle is wrapped up in bandages. Nall later deems not-so-SilentProtagonist Hiro worthy of wielding it, despite him not technically passing the Dragonmaster trials.]]* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' starts you out with a broken sword hilt. It deals pitiful damage and you get a better weapon nearly immediately, but if you hang on to it and forge it with a particular boss soul, it becomes one of the most powerful weapons in the game. Demon's Souls featured a similar weapon constructed from an equally useless sword hilt.** In a subversion/aversion, the sword in question (the Greatsword of Artorias) can also be crafted from any other broken sword you have lying around, no differences. Or, it can be crafted from an unbroken sword for a "cursed" version, which is weaker but has lower stat requirements. Plus, it can hurt ghosts.* In ''Videogame/DarkSoulsII'' the Red Rust equipment (sword, scimitar, and shield) definitely look like they've seen better days, but they are still very good weapons. The Greatsword also looks chipped and worn out, but it's still a huge sword that can chop up enemies real good.* In ''VideoGame/GoldenSun: The Lost Age'', you can find rusty weapons in certain patches of shallow water in the ocean as soon as you get the ship. If you take these to Sunshine the Blacksmith, he will agree to fix them up, resulting in weapons that are reasonably good for that part of the game.** Mind you, you find a good majority of the first set of rusted weapons when you get into "Triton's pieces/QuickSandBox" part of the game, and by the time you actually get around to finding more of them you mostly have weapons that overpower the crafted ones. That's not to say later in the game.* In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Fire Emblem: Awakening]]'', [[spoiler:[[SecretCharacter Priam]]'s]] Ragnell is visibly worn, with a dulled blade and cracks all over. While not the infinite-use juggernaut that it was when [[spoiler:his ancestor]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Ike]] wielded it, it's still a highly powerful top-rank weapon.** The fact he uses its ranged attack by throwing it at the enemies probably doesn't help.* Appears in ''HalfMinuteHero'''s Hero 30 mode late in the game. [[spoiler:It becomes the ultimate weapon if you refuse to kill Sasha after she becomes a zombie.]]* In ''FateStayNight'', Gilgamesh pulls out a somewhat goofy-looking drill-like sword. This sword quickly loses all jokes about it, as it is actually Ea, '''the single''' most powerful weapon in the entire {{Nasuverse}}, and at full power it is capable of [[EarthShatteringKaboom ending the world in a single blow]].* ''[[VideoGame/{{Boktai}} Boktai 2]]'' had a ridiculously weak sword, spear, and mallet free for the taking from treasure chests after the first boss. These items also have a chance of nullifying defense, and when that happens their low attack levels do ''tons'' of damage against 0 defense.** You could also craft them into moderately average weapons with the same abilities if you were good enough at sword smithing.* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'' it's possible to stumble across a unique rusty dagger in a certain daedric ruin. Said dagger later turns out to be Mehrune's Razor, mythical artifact and signature weapon of the local GodOfEvil, and if you bring it to his shrine he's happy to restore it for you.** Similarly, in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' the Mace of Molag Bal is initially found as a rusty piece of scrap. However, Molag Bal is a little more demanding than Mehrunes Dagon and [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption forces the player to kill several people]] before he'll restore it.* ''Videogame/BreathOfFireIV'' has a rusted sword that will upgrade into a much more powerful sword, the Slayer, if Scias uses it to kill 1000 enemies.* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' the game simulates item condition and it is common to find some some great weapons in really poor shape. The straightest example though is the Infinity +1 sword Mercy. It an incredibly rusted looking grenade machine gun you find in a death claw filled cave. However it shoots 40mm grenades rather than 25mm, making it nearly twice as powerful. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* Zero's [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]] in ''{{Tasakeru}}'' plays with this. It ''is'' just an ordinary sword, if a bit scratched and weatherbeaten. [[spoiler: But then it gets [[WreckedWeapon broken]] and subsequently reforged by a God...]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* Minor ''WinxClub'' example: during a defence lesson, professor [[spoiler:Impostor!]]Avalon instructs Bloom and another student to pick two magic swords and spar, and Bloom's shiny sword is ''shattered'' by the chipped one chosen by the other. The other sword happened to have survived an ''extremely'' powerful attack, and that single chip (the ''only'' sign of disrepair) was where the attack had hit and [[MoreThanMeetsTheEye the sign it was the better sword]].[[/folder]]